no lies, just love. (private)

[addy-hime ♥]

The sound of the ocean was the most relaxing thing she had heard in ages. Eyes the same shade of blue watched as the waves rushed inward; plush lips parted in pleasure when the foam lapped at her toes.

Youka had settled herself down what felt like hours ago into the sand, the heavy cloak that had aided her travels across the desert discarded some meters away from the waterline. Her legs were bent, allowing her feet to plant just at the edge of where the tide could reach. Surely the black, silk dress she was wearing was getting dirty from the sand ... but who could possibly care? Not she. Not at this moment. The sun was starting to set below the horizon, painting the clouds pink, purple, orange; the sight was reflected off the water like a rippling mirror.

A salt-tinged breeze rustled cotton candy pink locks, obscuring her eyes. The newest Kazekage sighed, left hand lifting to brush back her bangs even as her gaze traveled down to the rose clutched in her other hand. "And I sat watching a flower ... " the melodious voice escaped her, words sung freely because there was no one around to hear. "As it was withering. I was embarrassed by its honesty."

Fingers twitched, and abruptly the kunoichi tore a petal from the rose. It was flicked out into the rush of water as it was sucked back into the ocean; so the water bore it too. "So I'd prefer to be remembered as a smiling face, not this fucking wreck that has taken its place." Though the song consumed her thoughts, it was unnecessary to ponder the words for too long. The job of Kage was not what she had planned to do with her life. Because of Shiro, her freedom was gone. This would be her first, and last, time visiting the ocean.

"So please forgive what I have done. No, you can't stay mad at the setting sun~"

[Comatose]

The boat I had been set adrift on, by my own doing, had finally reached a suitable shore to unload it's contents. I, a stowaway, would have been one of things it was unloading. In a barrel I sat, contorted like some sort of linguini, a certain sort of flexibility and lack of spacial awareness via lack of claustrophobia that only a ninja could handle. Nevertheless, I broke out of my barrel prison as soon as I'd arrived on shore, carried by a deckhand out to the makeshift dock. It didn't matter at that point if I was noticed.

The air was filled with a sort of bittersweet smell that only the ocean could provide. While the smell of the ocean was a joy for the senses, it was also an explosion. My nostrils flared as I attempted to suck in whatever uncontaminated air I could from the ocean air, the mixture of salt and sea itching the glands which fired off the neuro-chemical signals that explained to my brain that this was in fact what I was smelling.

This same air was filled with an alternate thing of note, however, it tingled the auditory sense, some sort of music. Though, it wasn't exactly music, it was singing. I searched for the origin of the sound briefly, my hand to my brow to block the obnoxious sunlight whilst I looked about, only to see the figurine of a girl. Of course, the combination of the bright light and my noses' irritation, hindered me making out just how she looked, requiring me to get a bit closer than I would have.

Getting closer allowed me to get wind of the song more clearly, it was refreshing in contrast with everything had happened around these parts as of late. So, my mind made itself up before I knew, forcing upon me something out of character. I approached her directly and bluntly, my hand gesturing the most non-descript and nonfunctional wave in the history of hello.

"That's quite a song you're singing there."

[addy-hime ♥]

"That's quite a song you're singing there."

Surprise. It was an emotion Youka was very unaccustomed to, and that became obvious with the jittery jerk of her wrist. A few petals were accidentally torn from the rose as she turned in the sand to face the intruder, blue eyes wide. He snuck up on her ... ? Normally she was the one going around startling other shinobi, so this change was both new and unwelcome.

Normally, the stranger would have been scoffed off and ignored, but his dysfunctional wave was too funny to pass up. So those lips were tugging into a smile, one that lit up the oddly pale face and even managed to reach her eyes. "It's a good song. I heard it from one of the shinobi in Sunagakure no Sato a while ago, and I couldn't get it out of my head." It would normally have been unacceptable to be so forward about naming a hidden village, but Youka was not in possession of her headband currently. In that way she was in less danger than a normal kunoichi; it also helped that none of the enemies knew the face of the new Wind Shadow.

Instead of remaining in that half-twisted, uncomfortable position Youka turned away from him. The hand holding that defiled rose moved to awkwardly pat the ground at her side, inviting him to sit down if he so desired. She would not do so verbally ... that was much too kind, too out of character. The only people she said sweet words to were Soratsu and Kaiiro, and even then there was usually a reason behind them. Meanwhile, her left hand scooted out, dragging what looked to be a lacquered wooden item closer to her. A weapon? Perhaps. One with knowledge of the world would have identified it as a larger version of a folded up fan.

"I have not seen you around these parts before. Are you a traveler? I must warn you, the desert is not very hospitable to those who do not know how to handle its perils. This will be the only water you will see for a long time. Ironic, too, that you cannot even drink it ..." The quiet voice trailed off thoughtfully, punctuated by a sigh. The girl was apparently enthralled by the view in front of her, hardly paying attention to the man.

[Comatose]

"I've been here before."

I explained as brief and un-detailed as possible. No one wanted exactly to admit that they had been somewhere for a devious purpose, especially when it was likely she could have been somewhat attached to the desert country, or even a ninja of it. In both those scenarios, without properly crafting my words, things could have turned out a bit complicated.

When she had patted the seat earlier I had taken the opportunity to sit, though I had enjoyed walking about after being cramped into the barrel for hours. Weighing the pros and cons, humoring her would probably turn out more in my favor in the long run, and that's just what I did. I couldn't help watching her form as she moved though, she was of course, a woman and regardless of the her demeanor — ice cold, she was built like one, beautiful. It was hard not to do so for this reason, regardless of the awkwardness it presented in the form of body language, I myself trying to veil it by turning toward the ocean.

"I know pretty much where everything is in this country by heart, without a map."

An odd skill extreme memory like mine was.

"Are you a native of here?"

I dropped the ball.

[addy-hime ♥]

A deep breath was drawn, salty air inhaled and filling up her lungs past capacity. "Oh." It was hard to respond to a statement like that when one had just gone through the trouble of giving a detailed warning. The ocean managed to entertain her for a moment longer, but the close proximity of the man was very hard to ignore. Youka turned her head toward him, pretending not to notice that he was trying to study her. But then, why bother to hide it? Thick lashes fluttered as she blatantly took in his features, even going so far as to lock eyes with him if he would present the opportunity. Shiro was right about one thing: she had guts.

"That's good. Wouldn't want to get lost here, would you?" It was a rhetorical question, and as such she did not wait for an answer from him. One shoulder shrugged up, trying in vain to dismiss the newest question. A native? "I guess you could say I live here. Is that important to you?" The smile transformed into something playful and sly, even comparable to a Cheshire grin. If only he knew who he was talking to! Then again, if he did know there was quite a high chance that he would do her harm. But then, was that a bad thing in the long run?

Youka turned her head away from him again, all expression falling from her face once more, almost like it had never been there to begin with. "Just lately I've been feeling like I don't belong. Like the ground's not mine to walk upon~" A continuation of the song was the next thing to escape her vocal cords, just as strong and confident as when she had thought no one was listening in. Embarrassment was a hard emotion for her to come by these days. "We all get tired, I mean ... eventually there is nothing left to do but sleep."

"Hah!" The pink-haired girl suddenly collapsed onto her back, both arms languidly stretching to serve as a cushion for the back of her head. It wasn't the most intelligent move to be so relaxed around a stranger, especially considering her current outfit and apparent lack of weapons. But some might agree that she didn't believe she had much to live for; the song may strengthen that theory. "I'm a kunoichi from Sunagakure." Yeah, shoot me, elders. At least I didn't tell him I'm the Kazekage. Bright eyes shifted back to his body, a few blinks acting as question marks. "Where are you from?"

[Comatose]

The girl had relinquished what was probably the only saving grace of hers in the first place, not having explained what her profession was, that she was a kunoichi. The piece of information had sparked in my mind, manufacturing all sorts of dubious and insidious ideas about what to do with her next. My mind had since times past cracked and fractured, and little things kept me sane, one being not in the company of others like me. My body itched to react as it had many times before, itching to move my hand to her chest and easily puncture it's cavity in one swift creation of the simplest of paper. The mental struggle was immense, I kept it at bay — for now.

"A kunoichi, huh? Interesting. ."

My voice trailed, repeating the words resounding the thought in my mind like the echo of my voice against the rocky cliffs aside the ocean. I stood up suddenly and without warning, my hand grazing through my hair before laying idle at my side. How to present myself?

"I'm a feral dog. A dog of war. Nuke-nin — Jounin. Former Shichidaime of Yukigakure. Now comes the difficult part."

In a snap I duplicated, and hundreds of kunai seemed to float aimlessly about my two forms. The threshold had been broken, and the beast had been set free. My sanity slipped and all there was left was bloodlust. I dabbled in the notion of allowing her live, but couldn't yet find the reason to. Alterity, had behooved me into the most savage of states.

"Why shouldn't I kill you?"

I needed logic and reason, only that would satiate me.

Pepa Shuriken no Jutsu (Paper Shuriken Technique)
Rank: D [25 EXP]
Type: Offensive / Secret Technique
Range: 0 - 10 meters
Special: Size and strength of paper shuriken depends on user's highest 'Paper Strength' rank. Shuriken travel 10 meters when first learned, plus 10 more each time retrained. Shuriken cannot be guided.
Description: A simple, basic yet effective paper techniques, the user can take one or more paper creations of their own and turn them into deadly shuriken. Retaining their infamous paper strength, these shuriken are sent flying by the user's chakra alone, resulting in a deadly barrage of projectiles.
Domain: Shikigami. Must know Paper Strength 'D"'.


Pepa Bunshin no Jutsu (Paper Clone Technique)
Rank: C [50 EXP]
Type: Supplementary / Secret Technique
Range: See special!
Special: Clones can exist as far as the eye can see, or until the user leaves the thread, and take no additional chakra for upkeep. Clones move at faster speeds than the user due to their light weight, and can perform any Akegarasu jutsu the user knows. Clones disperse and reform before being defeated. Up to one clone can be made, plus one more each time retrained. Paper clones, like Kage Bunshin, share the user's chakra reserves.
Description: With a sufficient amount of paper, the user forms a single seal and calls them together in order to form a perfect clone of themselves. Unlike regular bunshin, the paper clone has substance, can move at improved speeds, and best of all, scatters when struck for re-use. Although the clone is not spawned with the user's inventory, they will attain whatever main weaponry the user has at the time, if any. When struck by concentrated blows from bladed/blunt weaponry or even a bare fist, the clone disperses into a tuff of paper that can either reform or be used for other clan jutsu. However, widespread, area-of-effect attacks can defeat the paper clones instantly.
Domain: Shikigami. Must know Paper Strength 'C'.

[addy-hime ♥]

Youka watched quite calmly as the man rose to his feet. The way he ran a hand through his hair made the corner of her lips twitch, but the smile was swallowed because of the words that followed. Nuke-nin? Former Yukikage? That was quite an impressive repertoire, and somewhere deep in her bones she realized that it meant she should be frightened of him. Though the leader of an entire village of shinobi, the Etsuko girl herself was weak of body. They only agreed to follow her rule because of the opposite trait: being strong of mind.

"Why shouldn't I kill you?"

Blue occuli widened slightly at the immense show before her. Not only was his beauty doubled, but it was put in stark contrast with the weapons that now floated in the air. Though she felt a spark of fear in the back of her mind, there was also a burst of excited pleasure at the situation. It was reflected in her eyes and the way her fingers trembled as she slowly sat back up. They wrapped around the base of her folded Kyodai Sensu and the fan was lifted into the air--an action simultaneous with the graceful ascent to standing. A normal shinobi would have immediately tried to attack, or perhaps (in Kaiiro's case) shunshin away. Youka merely stood there, a single circle exposed on the paper of her fan as she swung it lazily to and fro.

"It's not my responsibility to tell you why you should not kill me. Actually, I'm quite certain there is nothing I could say that would dissuade you. If you want my blood, spill it. I should be asking you ... why should you kill me?"

Her body was tense, and her chest was rising and falling at a faster rate than moments ago. One could easily say she looked like a trapped bird, waiting on the wings to see if they would be devoured or given a chance to flutter away. It was too bad that this was no longer the time to be singing. Instead, Youka withdrew into herself, lips parting to release a hot breath of air as the lyrics repeated in her head. But spring came bearing sunlight, those persuasive rays. So I gave myself a few more days ...

[Comatose]

The question was somewhat ignored, at least in the sense of thoughtfulness, I couldn't quite care about it. However, I responded, instinctively.

"There is no why of the matter. It's a need of sorts, my own sort of visual and emotional sustenance. It quells the beast inside."

I wasn't one for being philosophical, but that was the only tangible way to put it. Like the human need for hunger, my mind slowly degraded and emptied to the point grumbling. Just as there was disillusions that came with starvation, and the innate sort of savage irrational need to obtain food when one was under it's affects there was similar reasoning to my bloodlust. When my emotional and mental capacity was bankrupt I sought out sustenance like the starving human that would do anything to find food. Needless to say the paradigm ended there, and whilst obtaining food could be rational and normal, I fell into this irrational alterity.

"One more chance."

[addy-hime ♥]

Youka hardly assumed that her little speech would make him cancel the jutsu he held above her head, like an axe at the chopping block. This was her chance, it was what she had been pondering on all this time--to die, or not to die? Earlier, the kunoichi had been musing over the idea of jumping in the ocean and never coming back. She had never been in deep water before, so there was a good chance that swimming was not a skill she could classify as her own. Water walking with chakra, yes, but not staying above those ragged waves.

"Two chances is a lot for someone like me. If your beast really wanted me dead, you would have done it without hesitation." It was like poking a wolf with a stick, this. Her lips curved into a shaky smile, suddenly overwhelmed with the possibility of death. A part of her was excited still, but another part did not want to leave this world. Not when it contained such beauty as the ocean, or such love as from Kaiiro and Soratsu. "I don't want to die." The Kyodai Sensu was slowly flipped open further, two of the decorative circles now exposed to the sea breeze.

What's this?!

The near-frightened expression that had been shadowing those pale features was gone, replaced now by a stubborn firmness. This man, this Nuke-nin would not be the death of her .. no matter what it took to hold onto her life. "I have connections. What do I need to do for you to spare me?"

[Comatose]

My demeanor seemed to change at the possibility of a benefit for letting her live. Though my bloodlust had taken control of my body so to speak, I actually didn't want to kill her. She seemed more innocent than most shinobi and kunoichi, as if she was untainted by the doings of ninja. My body language reflected my demeanor, willing to hear her out of she did have some sort of connections that were useful to me.

"Connections? What kind of connections are we speaking about?"

I didn't pay much mind to her first comment, at least over the second. The beast was quelled for now, because of the proposal of some sort of net gain of not killing her. I wondered what she would respond with. Whatever it was, for her to play that card now, she must have been someone important or in power. That had to be why she didn't just tell me outright who she was, she was hiding something.

[addy-hime ♥]

Oh wonderful, of course. Of course the Nuke-nin would enjoy the idea of some benefit for not splattering her blood across the sand. Youka wanted to laugh; moreover, she wanted to contort the very wind and blast him until he could not take it anymore. Even a mountain erodes through time, strong as it may be. Unfortunately, he was probably powerful enough to overtake her before she could even scratch him.

"I ... I am the current Kazekage of Sunagakure no Sato. My elder brother was the former leader, but he stepped down and left the job to me. So, you see, I have quite a lot of power ... quite a lot of connections."

It would be stupid to mention that many of the shinobi in the village would try to protect her if, right now, they were here to witness this scene. Still, she felt no remorse for selling out if it meant living another day. While provoking an ex-Kage was not a good idea in the first place, Youka could not help but rationalize that the village would not be any better with her six feet under. Hell, she did not even want the responsibility to begin with, but she wasn't going to do a half-ass job and shame the Etsuko name. Shiro would be disappointed.

"Tell me, then, what you want from me." Pink lashes fluttered, and her petite body slowly started to relax. The gigantic fan would not be lowered from its newly defensive stance, but she was not as jittery as a few minutes prior. How could such a handsome man be so frightening? It was both astounding and intoxicating, and somewhere deep inside she knew she was slightly ... attracted to his commandeering and insane behavior. She didn't want him to leave.

[Comatose]

I was almost floored by the girls announcement, not believing what she had just said. Could it actually be true? Was it some sort of oversight by the ninja of her village? Even I, during my reign as resident Yukikage did well to not venture to far without my ninja in tow. The likelihood of being ambushed, cornered, or targeted in some way was much too high, it simply wasn't feasible. However, despite all this, here she was, the current Kazekage beckoned to my call. Needless to say, the beast was satiated. Now all that had to be done was to think of how to capitalize on my fortune.

"What would I like from you? Everything and anything."

Though my actual answer was vague I did have something specific in mind, that is, I wished to gain long-lasting benefit from this chance encounter. She would not get off the hook by simply providing me with a single good, but rather, would suffer long-lasting debt to me — to provide me with my any worldly desire, should I simply demand it.

"You and your village will become my ever-lasting farm."

[addy-hime ♥]

With a snap! the Kyodai Sensu was shut, returning it from a two-foot span to a simple piece of wood, not unlike a sheathe. Youka had the urge to hit him upside the head with it, but considering there were still two of him, well ... that would be a little difficult to accomplish. Instead, she allowed her arm and the weapon to swing limply at her side, unused.

"You'll have to be a bit more specific than that, I'm afraid. I cannot simply pick up the village and hand it to you, and I doubt you would want to come back there with me--" She cut herself off, shaking that pink-topped head quickly. Him returning to Sunagakure no Sato with her would be devastating! There would be so many questions! The only sound option in that case would be to give him a head-band to mark him as an ally, but he didn't seem like the type that would do something like that. After all, he was from Yukigakure; not only that, but a past leader of the village itself. This situation was horrible, and there was still nothing she could do, so long as he threatened her with his ninjutsu.

"And you have yet to tell me your name, Shichidaime-sama," she huffed, looking away from the duo and glaring instead at the ocean. This was all its fault! Yep! What was so good about the ocean, anyway?!

[Comatose]

"I'm specific as I need to be, young Kazekage-sama. You and your village with be my cow. When I ask of something, you get it."

I was more than confident in retrieving said item or thing, easily, regardless if I allowed her back to her village. My time as Nuke-Nin and then subsequently my time fighting in the war for the highest bidder had allowed me to make an interesting cast of acquaintances. These people, both legendary and unknown would more than likely help me acquire said objects if there was something in it for them.

"The most modest example would be, say, I wanted the scrolls to your exclusive village jutsu. You'd prepare them, and give them to me. I know the state of all the villages is not one from which they can take any assault from one such as me. At this stage in the game, single-handedly taking out your forces alone or with just one other person would be all too easy."

My creations were dismissed in a snap, returning to my hand in the form of nothing but individual sheets of paper, a toothy grin escaping my mouth.

[addy-hime ♥]

It could not be helped. The moment his jutsu were dismissed she turned her attention onto him once more, an astounded look overpowering her will to be stoic. There were textbooks that described a certain chakra release that allowed shinobi to control paper, but she had never seen it in person. Honestly, it was more interesting to her than his threats; it took a lot of strength to tear her eyes away from his hand and refocus on his face.

"Fine, done," she stated simply, shoulders rising and falling to show how little she cared. Or, rather, to try and convince him of that fact. But then those lips were parting again, whispering out a statement that one would be surprised to hear coming from her, considering the situation. "But I have one question and one request. What if Sunagakure--or I--cannot provide you with the item ... or service ... you request? And can we please not use the term 'cow'."

Youka lifted up her fan, sliding it into its place on her back; the strap that held it there was fastened quite deftly despite having just bought the weapon. Too bad, really, that she had not gotten to test it out yet! If only he tried to attack with those little paper toys of his ... he would have had a pretty big surprise coming his way, without a doubt! Hmph! she thought, crossing her arms beneath her bust. "What are you going to do with me now, Shichidaime-sama?" He hadn't given his name, so she would call him this until he did.